DAILY READINGS IN LIFE OF CHRIST - J.R. Miller (1890)

The Traitor!

And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons!" John 18:2-3 

Every new line in the story of the betrayal, shows new blackness in the heart of Judas. Going out from the supper-table, he hastened to the priests, and was quickly under way with his band of soldiers. He probably first hurried back to the upper room, where he had left Jesus; not finding Him there, he knew well where the Master had gone, and hastened to the sacred place of prayer. Then the manner in which he let the officers know which of the company was Jesus, shows the deepest blackness of all: he went up to Him as to a dear friend, and kissed Him — kissed Him over and over, and with feigned warmth and affection.

Let us remember how the treason grew in the heart of Judas, beginning in greed for money, growing into theft and falseness of life, and ending at last in the blackest crime the world ever saw! The lesson is, that we should watch the beginnings of evil in our hearts.

A picture in the royal gallery of Brussels represents Judas wandering about on the night after the betrayal. He comes by chance upon the workmen who have been making the cross on which Christ shall be crucified tomorrow. A fire near by throws its light full on the faces of the workmen, who are sleeping peacefully while resting from their labor. Judas's face is somewhat in the shade; but it is wonderfully expressive of awful remorse and agony, as he catches sight of the cross and the tools used in making it — the cross which his treachery had made possible. But still, though in the very torments of Hell, as it appears — he clutches his money-bag, and seems to hurry on into the night. That picture tells the story of the fruit of Judas's victory — the money-bag with the thirty pieces of silver in it (and even that he could not long keep), carried off into the night of fiendish despair — that was all.

NOTE: The painting described in Brussels reminds me of DaVinci's Last Supper painting in which all disciples are painted with their faces lighted, but Judas' face is in the shadows. JLO

I will further impose on the readers' time by adding a poem I wrote a few years back describing the scene of Judas' betrayal:

Night in the Garden

By Bishop Jerry Ogles

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. John 18:3

 

 

Out of the darkest Halls of Hell

Came the marchers with torches raised.

Into the Garden quiet and still

They wandered forlorn and crazed.

 

Up to the Sovereign Lord of Love

Their spears shining bright in the mist

With arrogant air and a hateful shove

They took Him who wouldn’t resist.

 

Now to the head of Scribe and Priest

Was the Savior led that night,

And to Herod’s Court and Pilate’s Seat

Where Right gave way to the Night.

 

To the craggy heights of the Lonely Skull

They took Him and laid Him down

And into His Hands of Love they drove

Iron spikes with a terrible Sound!

 

On His Brow a thorny Crown He wore

And His flesh was torn and bruised.

His Heart of Grace grew cold and sore

As the Spirit of Life was loosed.

 

The world of woe a Hope has found

In the Promise made sure by His Death

And the Saints of God with Faith abound

In the Fields that their Lord has blessed!

AMEN